Review – 42083 TECHNIC Bugatti Chiron

When I got the mail from The LEGO Group asking if I would be willing to review their upcoming release of a Bugatti Chiron supercar, I immediately said YES!!! A week later, the kit was sitting at my front door. When I cracked open the shipping box and looked at the product box, I knew that this was going to be very similar in style and build quality to the Porsche 911 GT3-RS model they released in 2016. I was not disappointed.

(photo courtesy of The LEGO Group)(photo courtesy of Bugatti International)

Although the official press release (here) claims that the set comes with a color collector’s booklet, there are actually two booklets in the set (306 pages for #1 and 322 pages for #2). The instructions include 970 steps (with several having multiple sub steps). The pieces come in 6 different boxes, with a total of 12 different sets of bags. The set contains 3,599 pieces and one sticker sheet.

(photo courtesy of The LEGO Group)

As with the Porsche build, the booklets start with a history of the project, quotes from people at both companies, technical information and more, provided in both English and German. This set adds a callout to a series of podcasts that you can download. The booklets also go into some details about the design process and thoughts for each box, based on what section the box pertains to. For instance, Box 1 is the motor and gearbox. The booklet describes how this set has “The most sophisticated LEGO® Technic engine ever built.” After finishing it, I agree! (NOTE: for all of you car-junkies out there, the real Chiron engine is no less impressive. It is a quad-turbocharged W16 (yes, 16 cylinders) that generates 1,500 horses and 1,600 Nm of torque…. Holy Crap!!!)

(photo courtesy of The LEGO Group)

(above, one of the new shifter ring pieces. Below, the shifters in the model)

Box 2 contains the front half of the frame and chassis, and the section is called the “Marriage Process.” This mimics real-world Chiron manufacturing where the “full carbon fibre monocoque” is married to the rear end with the motor. This portion of the build was just as complex and elegant as the motor assembly. Just like the Porsche model, the Chiron model has a full working paddle shifter for changing gears, but the mechanism is totally different in design. This model uses a Technic gear with four pins and sleeves that are moved by a couple of axle-connectors. An axle held in place with a rubber band sits on the other side to lock the gear at each 90 degree stop.

(A close up of the paddle shifter mechanism)

The rest of the build continues in a similar fashion with the car taking shape around box 4. The build was fairly easy for the most part. There is one step that takes a little time (# 464 – The Marriage). This step requires two pages to show all of the various alignments and positions of the gears and axles when you connect the front and rear halves, but that is to be expected in a complex model.

(photos showing the “Marriage Process”)

The other thing that I found a little difficult in this model was the steps involving the dark blue Technic beams. In all fairness, I find this color difficult to deal with in any LEGO instruction book because the color of the beams does not allow you to see the holes and pin placements easily (book 2, page 23, step 4 as an example). I think that if TLG were to print any instructions that have dark blue panels by using white for the “edge color”, it would make things easier for us older folk whose eyesight is starting to abandon us. They do this with black elements already.

Just like the Porsche, this model comes with a unique serial number that you can enter into the LEGO Technic website to download some extra goodies. Unfortunately, at the time of my writing this (which is before the official press release) the site has not activated the download so I cannot provide any feedback on what the goodies are. But I’ll bet they are pretty sweet.

(the tile with the unique serial number hides under the front hood)

Now that the build is complete, and I get to sit back and look at the set, I can tell that it will claim a prominent spot in my collection, right next to the Porsche set. I think I am going to build a couple of display cases for these models. Furthermore, if The LEGO Group decides they want to add a third model to this [what I hope will become a series (BIG HINT!)], there are a couple other cars that might be worth looking into. For AFOLs and for adults who love models, engineering, or fancy cars, you should definitely consider getting this set. It is a great build, a cool model and continues to uphold the fine engineering standards of The LEGO Group. (Sorry Bugatti. I am sure your engineering is equally impressive, but alas, I do not have a Chiron in my possession to evaluate. However I am free next week if you would like to fly me out to your assembly plant to perform a remote review).

(photo courtesy of The LEGO Group)(photo courtesy of Bugatti International)

2 thoughts on “Review – 42083 TECHNIC Bugatti Chiron”

I’m a 60 year old Lego newcomer, just completed the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 and now I’m working on the Bugatti. I noticed there’s a “light kit” (brake lights, etc.) available at Amazon. Wonder what your thoughts are about adding on extras.
Worthwhile or avoid?
One comment about the build so far (just completed the first set of bags), the instructions are less informative than the DB5. For example, it will show that you need to add 6 small black pins, but instead of each pin location being highlighted, only one was. The rest I had to play “find It yourself” by comparing photos or looking at the model. Given the complexity and number of steps, I’m very afraid of making an error and would have appreciated a more thorough and clear set of instructions.
Thanks!

I have no problems with add-ons, as LEGO doesn’t have everything. Addons, like electronics especially, are things that I don’t have a problem with – Brickstuff and Lifelites are good vendors. Amazon dealers are usually Chinese vendors.

Your comment on the instructions is appreciated – while I haven’t gotten the set yet, I eventually will. This is good to know.